Trader Joe’s sued over labeling discrepancy

Not only do specific food labels matter, individual items on ingredient lists can be enough to snag the attention of watchdogs and interest groups. The phrase "evaporated cane juice" cannot be used to cover up the presence of sugar in food items, according to the FDA, but a new lawsuit alleges that grocer Trader Joe's has been doing exactly that. The popular chain of stores is known for maintaining a somewhat "alternative" air by preferring "organic" labels for its in-house brand of products. However, this new action comes as the latest in a line of similar litigation efforts against food producers, particularly "health" foods like "Greek" yogurt and soy milk, and could signal a growing awareness of the seriousness of proper labeling within the industry.

One interesting item of this particular case is the nature of the firm handling the prosecution. Pratt & Associates LLP is a bit of a leader when it comes to suing companies for bad labeling. In a piece for the Huffington Post, an attorney from the firm named Pierce Gore expressed his passion for this cause, calling food labels "a sea of lies."

"It's difficult to describe the breadth of the problem," he said. "American consumers are being systematically lied to about the foods they eat."

Gore will be representing the three California women who are lodging the claim, along with related arguments that Trader Joe's does not accurately list the presence of artificial chemicals and colors.

The Primera LX900color label printer specializes in the production of all kinds of labels for different kinds of packaging. It's in nobody's interest for companies to issue false descriptions of their products, and having a versatile printer onboard could lower the chances of such accusations occurring in the future.